yo, chill out will you?

Being the smallest combatant in this melee, Iho knew better than to try and square off on the bear the way the giant brute did once they'd toppled it. Even downed, a grizzly bear was no pushover, especially not a rabid one. One bite of those teeth and it was game over, either now in a bloody mess or down the line as the virus destroyed what was left of you. Fortunately, the stranger seemed to have the bear under his power and in control. Iho helped out where he could, keeping his jaws latched around the bear's good leg as it kicked and struggled to get its footing. The arctic-hued wolf did not grant it the chance. He thrashed with the leg, preventing the bear from righting itself while the larger wolf slowly suffocated it.

It took several minutes, but eventually the bear began to succumb to asphyxiation, its oxygen-derived brain shutting down slowly. Its flailing movements became slower and more confused. Iho could feel the fight leaving its body along with its life. At one point, the bear gave a jerking final movement in the throes of death, nearly throwing the smaller wolf off his feet, the bear's leg slipping free from his jaws. Iho reacted quickly, going for the leg again, only to get a hard kick to his face. A startled yelp was all the bear got though, as Iho managed to grab the weakening leg once more and pin the bear down with his added weight. A minute longer and the bear stopped moving entirely.

Once he felt no life left in the ursine's muscles, Iho let go of the corpse and stumbled back, breathing heavy while blood dripped from his nose. He brought an examining paw up; it didn't feel broken, but the bear had definitely gotten a good kick in on him. Grimacing, the boy made his way up to the bear's head where the veteran warrior was still holding it in a lethal grasp, staring in awe of the man. "Wow... that was something!" he remarked, trying to smile while keeping a paw held to his nose to stop the thin trails of crimson running down his chin. "Never thought I'd ever help take down a bear!" Offering a dip of his head in greeting, Iho introduced himself. "Kumiho Mayonaka. Pleased to meet you!" Of course, he had no way of knowing this wolf was the father of the pup he'd been spending almost all of his free time with—or if he'd be able to detect traces of the girl's scent on him, faint as they might be from the couple days apart.

"Kumiho"